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Tech salaries saw a nearly 3% bump last year, and IT pros with expertise in big data-related languages, databases and skills enjoyed some of the largest paychecks.

Average U.S. tech salaries climbed to $87,811 in 2013, up from $85,619 the previous year, according to Dice's newly released 2013-2014 Salary Survey. Significantly, nine of the top 10 highest paying IT salaries are for skills related to big data, says the tech career site.

"Companies are betting big that harnessing data can play a major role in their competitive plans, and that is leading to high pay for critical skills," said Shravan Goli, president of Dice, in a statement. "Technology professionals should be volunteering for big data projects, which makes them more valuable to their current employer and more marketable to other employers."

Among all respondents, 34% of tech pros received a bonus as part of their 2013 compensation, and average bonuses totaled $9,323.

Silicon Valley tops the list of highest paid metropolitan areas when it comes to tech talent, with an average annual salary of $108,603 and an average annual bonus of $12,458.

When asked if they are satisfied with their salaries, respondents were divided. Nearly half were either very satisfied (17%) or somewhat satisfied (37%). Some were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (16%). At the other extreme, respondents were somewhat dissatisfied (20%) and very dissatisfied (10%).

A majority of IT pros (65%) told Dice they're confident they could find a new, better position.

Ann Bednarz covers IT careers, outsourcing and Internet culture for Network World. Follow Ann on Twitter at @annbednarz and reach her via email at abednarz@nww.com.